Sky Bet Championship
Leeds United 3 (Piroe 4’, Georginio 45’, James 61’)
Swansea City 1 (Patterson 1’)
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ampadu, Piroe, Kamara, Summerville (Anthony 80’), Rodon, James (Gnonto 70), Struijk (C) (Cooper 89’), Gray, Rutter (Bamford 70’), Byram (Firpo 80’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Poveda, Spence, Gruev.
Swansea: Rushworth (GK), Key (Darling 71’), Fulton (Patino 71’), Cabango, Grimes (C), Yates (Walsh 79’), Lowe, Patterson (Bolasie 79’), Tymon, Cooper (Cullen 71’), Humphreys. Subs not used: Fisher (GK), Tjoe-A-On, Naughton, Congreve.
Referee: Sam Allison
Booked: Lowe (Swansea)
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,905
Under the midweek lights of Elland Road, Leeds United faced Swansea City, in game number 18 of the Sky Bet Championship season for each side. Coming from behind in the game, the Whites worked hard and secure another important three points.
Leeds came into this clash having won five and drawn three of their opening eight matches on home turf, whereas visitors Swansea had won three, drawn one and lost four from their eight games on the road.
An exceptionally fast start saw both teams on the attack from kick-off. Leeds found the net inside 30 seconds, but an offside flag denied Dan James the opener from Georginio Rutter’s ball into the box.
Breaking quickly and still in the first minute of the match, Swansea then found the net, and this one counted. Josh Key played a long ball over the top which found its way to Jamie Patterson and the forward finished cleverly, flicking it over Illan Meslier into the back of the net.
Daniel Farke’s side responded well though and drew level almost instantly. Crysencio Summerville ran forward at pace and slipped the ball into the path of Joel Piroe, who finished calmly into the bottom corner against his former side.
Both teams continued to try and get on the front foot and push forward, but there were no major chances created. Pascal Struijk came the closest to putting Leeds ahead from a corner, but his header was well saved by Carl Rushworth in the visiting net.
Shortly before the break and two moments of quality would see Leeds go ahead. A pinpoint ball over the top of the defence by Ethan Ampadu was perfect for Georginio, who controlled magnificently before holding off his marker and coolly slotting home.
An entertaining opening 45 minutes was then brought to a close under the lights of Elland Road, with the Whites a goal in front heading into the changing rooms.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Swansea City
Our the for the second half at Elland Road, no changes were made and the action got going once again. A quick chance came when Georginio was fouled just outside the area, but Piroe’s free-kick struck the wall.
Leeds were looking to really dominate and had plenty of the ball. Their next opening arrived after clever play from Sam Byram, who found Glen Kamara, then onto Georginio and into the feet of Summerville, but the winger couldn’t finish off the free-flowing team move.
Just after the hour mark, the pressure paid off and a third goal came for Farke’s side. Georginio was again the creator of the chance, he played James in on goal and the winger had work to do, which he did well, before smashing into the roof of the net with his left-foot to also score against his former side.
With 20 minutes remaining, both teams made changes. Patrick Bamford and Willy Gnonto came on for Leeds in place of goalscorers, Georginio and James.
Swansea opted to make a triple change. Josh Key, Jay Fulton and Ollie Cooper were all replaced by Liam Cullen, Charlie Patino and Harry Darling.
Despite further chances at both ends, neither team troubled the goalscoring any further which meant Leeds were delighted to secure another big three points on home turf and extend the unbeaten run to nine in West Yorkshire.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Swansea City
